Air-compressor.



V. J. GUT HRIE.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 22, 1916.

' 1,263 Patented May 15,1917.

Witnsss V. J. GUTHRIE.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1916.

7 Patented May 15, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 9 F

r I Inventor Witnesses Attorheys .paratively large capacity,

ee PATENT canton.

VENABLE J. GUTHRIE, OF CAMBRIA, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-EIGHTH TO JOHN C. GUTHRIE, OF- PEARISBURG, VIRGINIA, AND ONE-EIGHTH TO WILLIAM C. GUTHRIE,

ONE-EIGHTH TO HENRY D. JORDAN, DUBLIN, VIRGINIA.

AND ONE-EIGHTH TO FRANK Specification of Letters Patent.

GORDON, ALL OF AIR-COMPRESSOR.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed June 22,1916. Serial N 0. 105,226.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VENABLE J. GUTHRIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambria, in the county of-Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Air-Compressor, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to air and gas compressors and pumps, and aims to provide a. novel and improved machine for compressing air or gas.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an air or gas compressor embodying a novel assemblage of the component elements whereby the-pump has a comhas the capability of producing a high pressure with the least expenditure of power, is operable Without the presence of sudden high compression points to overcome, has its working parts well balanced and arranged to avoid'undue vibration, and which will permit of a highspeed of operation with the reciprocatory movement of the pistons or plungers. It is .also the object of the invention to provide a machine of this'character in which the re-.

sistance against the operating means is practically steady, which is as simple as practlcal, which requires little floor space, being compact and low, and which has its working parts inclosed.

A specific object of the invention is the provision in an air or gas compressor of novel means for efi'ecting the compression of the air or gas in a most eflicient and practical manner, and another specific object of the invention is 'to provide novel means in connection with the reciprocatory pistons or plungers for admitting the air or gas.

A further object of the invention is the provision in the air or gas compressor of novel means for facilitating the lubrication of the working parts.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described, and claimed, it being understood I The invention is illustratedin the accom panylng drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a median vertical section of the compressor, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, portions being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, portions being shown in elevation. v Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the balanced valves of the pistons.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of an unbalanced valve.

In carrying out the invention, there is provi ded a suitable base 1 upon which is mounted a casing 2 providing the compression chamber. The casing 2 is preferably spherical for purpose of strength and appearance, and the lower open end of the casing 2 is flanged and bolted or otherwise secured upon' the edge of the base 1, there being a. suitable gasket or packing between the casing 2 and base to prevent leakage. The base 1 and casing 2 are each cast of suitable metal and the base is provided with opposite bearings 01 bearing brackets 3 in which the terminal portions of a crank shaft 4 are journaled, said crank shaft being seated between the adjacent edges of the.base 1 and easing 2. A fly wheel 5 is secured to one end of the crank shaft and a pulley wheel 6 to the other whereby the crank shaft can be belted to an engine or prime mover. It is to be understood, however, that the crank shaft can be driven from any available source of power, which can be connected either directly or indirectly with the crank shaft. The base 1 is provided with a bear lng or pedestal 7 in which the intermediate portlon of the crank shaft is journaled, and suitable packing means 8 are employed for preventing leakage around the crank shaft where it extends from the interior to the ex 9 terior of the casing. The base 1 is provided with a pair of basins or sumps 9 for contaming oil or other lubricant, and the two oppositely extending cranks of the shaft 4 are movable within said sumps 9 whereby we to splash the oil for applying the lubricant to the adjacent working parts. The sumps 9 have lower apertures or openings 10 for draw ofl plugs, which can be removed for drawing off the oil, especially the surplus oil, from the sumps 9, whereby the oil drawn off can be filtered and again used. The casing 2 is provided at one side with a handhole 11, normally closed by a hand hole cover 12 which is sealed by means of a gasket or other packing t9 prevent leakage. The casing 2 is provided at a suitable point with an air or gas outlet 13 to which a pipe or other conduit can be connected for conducting the compressed air to the desired point.

In the construction illustrated, a pair of vertical twin cylinders 14 are used, although any suitable number of cylinders can be used, and the cylinders 14 are preferably cast en bloc. Said cylinders 14 are fitted within the upper open end of the casing 2 and are equipped with a water jacket 15 provided between the upper and lower ends of the cylinders with an outstanding flange 15 bolted or otherwise secured upon the upper end of the casing 2. A suitable gasket or other packing is preferably disposed between the flange 15 and the casing 2 to prevent leakage, and the Water jacket 15 has the inlet and outlet openings or ports 16 and 16, respectively, whereby water or other cooling fluid can be circulated through the water jacket around the cylinders. The

' upper protruding ends of the cylinders are covered by a common head or plate 17 Slidably mounted for vertical movement in the cylinders 14 are the tubular or sleeveshaped pistons or plungers 18, which are preferably provided with packing rings adjacent their upper ends, and said pistons are provided adjacent their lower ends with diametrical wrist pins 19 having their intermediate portions ofl'set downwardly whereby the axes of said intermediate portions lie in the planes of the lower ends of the respective pistons. A pair of connecting rods 20 have their upper ends journaled upon the intermediate portions of the wrist pins 19, and have their lower ends journaled upon the cranks of the crank shaft 4. "When the.

crank shaft is rotated, the connecting rods will therefore impart reciprocatory movement to the pistons, the pistons reciprocat ing in opposite directions whereby the compressor will be double acting.

A displacement cone or tapered member 21 has its lower smaller or apical portion embracing and mounted upon each connecting rod 20 and secured thereto by-means of a cotter pin 22 or other securing element, and the upper larger end of the cone is open and arranged immediately adjacent to the lower end of the respective cylinder 18.

The upper ends of the cones are cut at an obtuse angle, as seen in Fig. 2, whereby the cones can swing with the crank shafts. When the connecting rod of each piston is in vertical position, opposite openings are v provided between the cone 21 and piston,

and when the crank shaft is arranged at its extreme angular position at either side, one.

side portion of the cone abuts against or is immediately adjacent to the lower end of the piston and there is an opening between the opposite side portion of the cone and piston, as seen in Fig. 2. To permit the upper larger ends of the cones to work adjacent the lower ends of the pistons, the wrist pins 19 are offset downwardly as above described.

The pistons 18 are provided at their upper ends with valves, which as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are of a special automatic balanced type. Threadedly or otherwise removably engaged with the upper end of each piston 18 is a ring or annulus 23 having an inner V-shaped edge providing a downwardly facing beveled valve seat 24 against which the upwardly facing beveled portion 25 of an upwardly seating puppet valve 26 is seatable. Each of the pistons is provided with one of said valves, and each valve is provided with a depending sleeve 27 slidable upon' a cylindrical head 28 which is preferably provided with pack-.

28 and valve 26, to raise said valveagainst its seat.. The valve 26 is provided with a central frusto-conical opening 32 providing an upwardly facing valve seat carried by the valve 26, theopening 32 communicating with the upper end of the chamber or bore of sleeve 27 amid a puppet valve 33-is seatable downwardly within the opening 32 and has a depending stem 34 slidable through a spider 35 with which the valve 26 is provided within the upper end of the sleeve 27. A coiled wire expansion spring 36, surrounds the stem 34 and is confined between the-spider-35 and a nut or equivalent' element 37 upon the lower end of the stem 34, whereby to normally close (the valve 33 with suflicient spring tension. The valve 26 is provided with diverging ducts or passages 38 extending from the chamber of the sleeve 27 to the upwardly facing beveled portion 25 of the valve which seats against the valve-seat 24, whereby said passages orbores 38 are normally closed by the valve seat.

Threadedly or otherwise engagedto the head 17 of the cylinders are annular memvalves 41 which are seatable upwardly masses againstsaid members 39, and said valves 41 have upstanding stems-42 slidable through the lower closed ends of the sleeves 40 and projecting upwardly out of said sleeves. The valves 41 are the permit air to flow into but prevent the air from flowing backwardly out of the cylinders. A nut 43 is threaded upon the stem 42 of each valve 41 and fits slidably within the upper end of the respective sleeve 41 and a lock nut 44 is threaded upon the upper end of the stem 42 and provides a seat for the nut 43. A coiled wire expansion spring 45 is disposed within each sleeve 40 and is confined between the lower end of said sleeve and the nut 43, whereby to raise the stem 42 and the valve 41. The tension of the spring 45 is regulated by adjusting the nut 43.

A drop feed oil or lubricant cup 46 is disposed above each cylinder and is provided with a discharge tube or spout 47 engaged through the respective arch 39 to overhang the valve 41, whereby the oil drips from the tube 47 onto the valve 41, in order that whensaid valve is unseated by the air suction, the inflowing air will spray the oil to the walls of thecylinder, the valve 26 and other working parts whereby to lubricate them. The

surplus oil flows downwardly and drips from the cylinders into the oil sumps 9, the oil also flowing downwardly along the pistons to lubricate the connecting rods. Thus, by the provision of the means for delivering oil onto the air intake valves 41, in connection with the sumps 9 in which the cranks of the crank shaft 4 dip, the various working parts of the compressor are lubricated in a most effective manner,

In operation, supposing the crank shaft to be rotated, the pistons 18 will reciprocate in opposite directions. When one pistonis moved downwardly so as to be projected into the compression chamber, the corresponding displacement cone 21 is moved ahead of said piston, and by its wedging action -will displace the air, thus bringing it under pres sure with the least resistance and friction, and without a jar or shock. When the pistons are reciprocated at a high velocity, the cones 21 are effective for assisting in the compression of air. Thus, when each cone is moved at a high speed. with the connecting rod into the compression chamber, the movement of the cone into said chamber displaces the air, that is to say, the movements, of the cone with its apex foremost causes cone to impinge" the oblique sides of the against the air and deflect 1t radially away from the cone, due-to the motlon of the cone,

thereby compressing the air in the casing 2.

air inlet valves which into said cylinder through the air inlet member 39, the valve 41 being unseated. lVhile one piston is moving downwardly, the other is moving in the opposite direction, and as a result the air within the cylinder of the upwardly moving piston is compressed, the valve 41 being seated, and the valve 26 being opened whereby the comp \ssed air is delivered into the upwardly moving piston 18 and displacement cone 21, the air flowing from between said piston and cone into the compression chamber, whereby to compensate for the air discharged by displacement through the outlet 13. Thus, as the pistons reciprocate in opposite directions, there is a 30 practically continuous displacement of air inthe casing '2, thereby providing a steady continuous flow of air,-which is almost entirely free of pulsations, one piston and its displacement cone always being operative 35 for displacing the air in the compression chamber while air is supplied to the compression chamber by way of the other piston.

By the provision of the balanced valves 26 of the pistons 18, the uniform balanced valve is so designed that the pressure area of the upwardly facing beveled portion 25 is the same as the pressure area of the fixed head 28 in the piston, the pressure area of the upper face of the valve 26 which is exposed 'throughthe opening of the ring 23 is thesame as the pressure'area of the lower exposed surface of the valve 26 and its sleeve 27, so that the 0 valve 26 is balanced with respect to the pressures in the upper end of the cylinder and the compression chamber. When the valve 26 is unseated by theslightly greater pressure in the cylinder above the piston, the air pressure above the piston new acts upon the'entire upper surface of the valve 26,

and to prevent the unbalancing of the valve when it is unseated, the passages 38 are provided. Therefore, when the valve 26 is unseated, air willflowthrough the passages or bores 38 into the chamber of sleeves 27 and the air within said chamber being brought under pressure will act upwardly against the valve 26 thus balancing the valve, sincev the upward pressure thereagainst will be practically the same as the downward pressure imposed upon the valve, the secondary or supplemental valve 33 remaining seatedunder the influence of its spring 36. The valve 26 being balanced will operate easily and quickly, and when the pressure of 90 the air in the casing 2 is enhanced. The

whereby 95 of the piston, whereby the 105 piston has reached the end of its upward stroke and starts downwardly, the pressure below the secondary valve 33 as well as the creation of a partial vacuum above it quickly opens said secondary valve and the air is therefore sucked from the chamber of sleeve 27 upwardly through the opening 32, and the valve 33 will immediately close, thereby again balancing the valve 26 as it seats during the initial downward movement of the piston, it being noted that the passages 38 being closed when the valve 26 is seated renders the secondary valve 33 useful in permitting the pressure to escape from the sleeve 27 The spring 31 unassisted serves to seat the valve 26, and is of such tension as to accomplish'th'e seating of said valve quickly and with certainty.

A simple unbalanced valve for use with each piston instead of the balance valve, is shown in Fig. 4, and is designated 26. This valve 26 has a depending sleeve 27' slidable upon the post 29 attachable to the cross bar of the piston, and a coiled expansion spring 31 is disposed within the sleeve 27' between the post 29 and the valve 26 for seating said valve. The sleeve 27 has passages or bores 38" extending to the chamber thereof for the ingress and egress of air as the valve 26' reciprocates relative to the post 29.

The construction and arrangement of parts are such that the desired objects are carried out in a satisfactory manner. Friction and resistance are reduced to a minimum, and the construction is apparently simple and inexpensive. The compressor can be operated at a minimum expense and will require but little attention. The consumption of oil is small, and the various parts in being nevertheless thoroughly lubricated, will render the machine long lived.

As illustrated in the drawings, the balanced valves and their seats are provided with beveled contacting surfaces, but if desired, by a very slight change in design, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art,- the contacting surfaces of the valves and their seats can be flat.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: x

1. A compressor embodying a compression chamber, a cylinder communicating. therewith at one end and having an inlet'at its other end, a valve for said inlet, a'tubular piston slidable in said cylinder, a valve carried by the piston seatable toward the inlet,

a crank shaft, a connecting rod connecting the crank shaft and piston, and a displacement cone upon the connecting rod having its larger end arranged adjacent to the piston, the chamber having an outlet.

2. A' compressor embodying a compression chamber, a cylinder having one end communicating with said chamber 'ing and havk ing an inlet at its other end, a valve for said inlet to prevent the outward flow of air therethrough, a tubular piston slidable in said cylinder having a valve seat at that end nearest said inlet and having a wrist pin at its other end ofiset away from said inlet, a crank shaft having a crank working within said chamber, a connecting rod connecting said crank and wrist pin, and a displacement cone having its apical portion secured upon the connecting rod, the larger end of the cone being open and cut at an obtuse angle to work adjacent the end of the piston, and said chamber having an outlet.

3. A compressor embodying a compression chamber having an outlet, a pair of cylinders having certain ends communicating with said chamber and having inlets at their other ends, valves for said inlets to prevent the flow'of air outwardly therethrough, tubular pistons slidable in the cylinders, valves carried by the pistons seatable toward said inlets, means for reciprocating the pistons in opposite directions, and displacement cones associated and movable with the pistons and working within said chamber, the larger ends of the cones being arranged adjacent to the pistons and having portions spaced therefrom to provide openings.

4. A compressor having :a compression chamber having an outlet, a cylinder having one end communicating with said chamber and having an air inlet at its other end, a valve for closing said inlet, a piston slidable within the cylinder, the piston having a valve seat facing away from the inlet, a spring pressed valve seatable against said seat and having a chamber and air conducting means that portion which rests against said seat, the second mentioned valve having an opencommunicating with said chamber and with that end of the cylinder having the'inlet, and a spring seated valve carried by the second mentioned valve and seatable away from the first mentioned valve to close said opening.

5. A compressor embodying a compression chamber having an outlet, a cylinder having one end communicating with said chamber and having an air inlet at its other end, a valve for closing said inlet, a piston slidable extending from the chamber'to within the cylinder and having a beveled valve seat facingflaway from the inlet, a spring pressed valve having a beveled portion seatable against said seat and having a I the second mentioned valve havin chamber, f rom sai air conducting means extending chamber to said beveled portion and nortioned valve being seatable away from the ing a valve seat facing away first mentioned valve, and spring means within said chamber for seating the third mentioned valve.

6. A compressor embodying a' compression chamber having an outlet, a cylinder having one end communicating with said chamber and having an air inlet at its other end, a valve for closing said inlet, a tubular piston slidable within the cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, the piston havfrom the inlet, a post within the piston carried thereby, a head carried by said post, a valve seatable against said seat and having a sleeve projecting away from the .inlet and slidable upon said head, an expansion spring confined between said head and second mentioned valve, the second mentioned valve having air conducting means extending from the chamber of said sleeve to the portion of said valve which rests against said seat, said valve having an opening communicating with the chamber of said sleeve and with that end of the cylinder having the inlet, and a spring second mentioned valve and seatable away from the first mentioned valve to close said opening.

7. A compressor embodying a compres sion chamber having'an outlet, a cylinder having one end communicating with said chamber and having an air inlet at its other seated valve carried by the end, a valve for closing said inlet, a tubular piston slidable within the cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, the piston having a beveled valve seat facing away from the inlet, a post within the piston and carried thereby, said post projecting toward the inlet, a head carried by said post, a second valve having a beveled portion seatable against said seat and having a sleeve projecting away from the inlet and slidable upon said head, the second mentioned valve having air conducting means extending from the chamber of said sleeve to said beveled portion and normally covered by said seat when the second mentioned valve is seated,

the second valve having an opening com-' municating with the chamber of said sleeve, and a spider within said sleeve, an expansion spring confined between said head and second valve, a third Valve seatable to close said opening of the second valve and having a stem slidable through said spider, and a spring between said spider and stem for seating the third valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VENABLE J. GUTHRIE. 

